A woman was critically injured in a shooting early this morning in Newark.Star-Ledger file photo

NEWARK — When police responded to a three-car accident in the city's South Ward early this morning, they found a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in one vehicle, and the other two abandoned.

At around 3:30 a.m., officers discovered the three cars at the corner of South 20th Street and 19th Avenue, just a block from the Irvington border, according to Police Director Sheilah Coley.

The cars all had several bullet holes but were unoccupied, except for the one containing the victim.

She was taken to University Hospital, and is listed in critical condition, police said.

A second victim at the scene suffered a graze to the head, police said. That injury was not life-threatening.

Major Crimes detectives are working to identify a motive and suspects, Coley said.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the crime to contact the 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS (877-695-8477) or 877-NWK-GUNS (877-695-4867).